Device used to facilitate the insertion of objects under a folded roof in the boot of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device used to facilitate the insertion of objects under a folded roof in the boot of a motor vehicle. The roof includes a rear element which is equipped with a finger bar that is designed to slide along a rail comprising a storage section, which is intended to guide the roof between a deployed position and a folded, stored position, and a raised section, which is intended to guide said roof between a folded, stored position and a folded, raised position. The device comprises a raising member which moves the above-mentioned finger along the length of the raised section. Moreover, a locking member is mounted to the raising member between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it blocks the auxiliary roof element in relation to the rear element when the roof is moved toward the folded, raised position thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to French patent application No.02/09217 filed on or about Jul. 19, 2002. A related application was alsofiled under the Patent Cooperation Treaty on or about Jun. 26, 2003, asPCT/FR03/01981. The PCT application claims priority to the French patentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device used to facilitate the insertion ofobjects under a roof which is folded in the boot of a motor vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

We know of a device adapted to facilitate the inserting of objects undera folded roof in the rear boot of a motor vehicle, according to whichtype the roof is movable between a deployed position in which it coversthe passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a folded, stored positionin which the roof is stored and retracted into the boot, and comprises arear roof element and at least one additional roof element which islocated in front of the rear roof element when the roof is in thedeployed position, and above the rear roof element when the roof is inthe folded position, the rear roof element comprising a finger bar usedto slide along a guiding rail which is fixed to the body of the vehicleand which comprises a storage section used to guide the roof between itsdeployed position and a folded, stored position, and a raising sectionextending along the storage section and used to guide the folded roofbetween its folded, stored position and a folded, raised position inwhich the folded roof at least partially projects out of the boot, thehood of the boot being in the open position, the device comprising araising device mounted in a movable manner between a low position and ahigh position, and used to guide the finger bar along the raisingsection.

Such a device, disclosed in the French application registered under thenumber 02 02 484, allows access to the rear boot zone located under thefolded roof. Indeed, this zone that can hold suitcases is difficult toaccess, the rear edge of the rear roof element when folded into the bootbeing too close to the rear edge of the opening of the boot. The deviceallows to raise the entire folded roof and thus create greater access tothis zone. Of course, the raising of the folded roof can only take placewhen the rear boot hood is open.

Such a device has a great inconvenience of leaving the additional roofelements with a certain amount of leeway in relation to the rear roofelement, the means allowing to articulate roof elements betweenthemselves does not provide sufficient rigidity to the folded roof,which could engender, during the raising of the folded roof, anoff-setting of the additional roof elements and putting them off centre.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to resolve the aforementioned problem byproviding a device that avoids any risk of off-setting the additionalroof elements (and therefore off-centring) when the folded roof israised.

According to the invention, a securing means is fitted to the raisingdevice in a movable manner between an open position and a closedposition in which the securing means is used to support each additionalroof element and to immobilise each additional roof element in relationto the rear roof element, when the roof is guided between its folded,stored position and its folded, raised position.

Such an invention allows to render the rear boot zone located under thefolded roof accessible without the additional roof elements beingoff-set and put off-centre when the folded roof is raised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear fromthe following description.

In relation to the non-restrictive drawings given by way of example:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross section according to the longitudinaldirection of a vehicle representing a collapsible roof in a deployedposition;

FIG. 2 is a similar view to that of FIG. 1, the roof being in theprocess of storing into the rear boot;

FIG. 3 is a blown-up view similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, the roofbeing in a folded, stored position in the rear boot, the raising devicenot showing;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to that of FIG. 3, representing the guidingrail and the raising device according to the invention, the roofelements not showing;

FIG. 5 is a cross section following the straight line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top, cross section view of the means for controlling in thenormal position following the straight line V-V in FIG. 8;

FIG. 7 is a similar view to that of FIG. 6, the means for controllingbeing in a locking position;

FIG. 8 is a similar view to those of FIGS. 3 and 4, the roof elementsand the raising device being represented, the roof being in the folded,stored position and the securing means being in the open position;

FIG. 9 is a similar view to that of FIG. 8, the roof being in thefolded, stored position and the securing means being in the closedposition;

FIG. 10 is a similar view to those of FIGS. 8 and 9, the roof being inthe folded, raised position and the securing means being in the closedposition;

FIG. 11 is a cross section following the straight line XI-XI in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 8 of a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross section similar to those of FIGS. 8 and 12 of a thirdembodiment, the roof being in the transmission position;

FIG. 14 is a similar view to those of FIGS. 8, 12 and 13 of the thirdembodiment, the roof being in the folded, stored position;

FIG. 15 is a similar view to that of FIG. 9 of the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross section view following the straight line XVI-XVI inFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a similar view to that of FIG. 3, demonstrating a disengaginggear mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a cross section following the straight line XVIII-XVIII inFIG. 17 of the gear mechanism in the engaged position; and

FIG. 19 is a similar view to that of FIG. 18, the gear mechanism beingin the disengaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 demonstrate a collapsible roof 1 of a vehicle moving fromits deployed position covering the passenger compartment of the vehicleto its folded, stored position in which it is stored into the rear boot2 of the vehicle.

The roof 1 comprises a rear roof element 3, a central roof element 4 anda front roof element 5.

When the roof is in the deployed position, the front roof element 5 isin front of the central roof element 4 which itself is in front of therear roof element 3. When the roof 1 is in the folded, stored position,the front roof element 5 is above the central roof element 4 whichitself is above the rear roof element 3, the three roof elements 3, 4and 5 thus being in a substantially horizontal position.

The folding (and unfolding) of the roof 1 is controlled by a deploymentarm 6 and is guided by a guiding rail 7.

The deployment arm 6 comprises a first end through which it is swivelmounted around an axis of rotation 8 with the body 9 of the vehicle, anda second end through which it is swivel mounted around a hinge line 10with the rear roof element 3.

The rear roof element 3 comprises a finger bar 11 slide mounted alongthe guiding rail 7 which is integral to the body 9 and which comprises astorage section 12 used to guide the roof 1 between its deployedposition and its folded, stored position in which the roof 1 isretracted into the boot 2.

The storage section 12 and the deployment arm 6 allow to guide the rearroof element 3 directly between its deployed position and its folded,stored position.

Furthermore, the central roof element 4 is connected to the rear roofelement 3 via rear link arms 13 which are actuated by first means foractivating. Likewise, the front roof element 5 is connected to thecentral roof element 4 via front link arms 14 which are actuated bysecond means for activating. The first means for activating and thesecond means for activating operate under the control of the deploymentarm 6.

The layout of the rear link arms 13 and the front link arms 14 and themeans for activating actuating them, allows the central roof element 4and the front roof element 5 to move from their deployed position totheir folded, stored position in which the roof 1 is retracted into theboot 2.

Thus, the deployment arm allows to, directly or indirectly, guide theentire roof 1 between its deployed position and its folded, storedposition.

FIG. 1 represents the roof 1 in the deployed position, the finger bar 11being located on the upper front end of the storage section 12.

FIG. 2 represents the roof 1 between its deployed position and itsfolded, stored position, the hood 15 of the rear boot 2 being in itsopen position from front to rear in order to allow the roof 1 to beinserted into the boot 2.

FIG. 3 represents the roof 1 in its folded, stored position in the boot2, the hood 15 being in its closed position and the finger bar 11 beinglocated on the lower rear end of the storage section 12.

FIG. 4 represents a device used to facilitate the inserting of objectsunder the roof 1 in the folded, stored position in the boot 2.

The device comprises a raising device 16 which is fitted in a moveablemanner between a low position and a high position and which is used toguide the roof 1 between its folded, stored position and its folded,raised position in which the roof 1 partially projects out of the boot2, the hood 15 thus being in the open position. The raising device 16 isin the low position when the roof 1 is in its folded, stored positionand in the high position when the roof 1 is in its folded, raisedposition.

In order to guide the roof 1 between its folded, stored position and itsfolded, raised position, the guiding rail 7 comprises a raising section17. This raising section 17 prolongs the storage section 12 andcomprises a lower front end 18 which is the lower rear end of thestorage section 12 and an upper rear end. The raising device 16 is usedto guide the finger bar 11 along the raising section 17.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the raising device 16 is a raising arm 16which comprises a first end through which it is swivel mounted, around aswivel axis 19 transversal to the vehicle, to the body 9.

The raising arm 16 comprises a support element 20 which is located, whenthe raising arm 16 is in the low position, at a right angle to the lowerfront end 18 of the raising section 17. This support element 20 thusallows to support and guide the finger bar 11 along the raising section17.

A jack 21 fitted in a movable manner on one hand to the body 9, and onthe other hand to the raising arm 16, allows the raising arm 16 to movefrom its low position to its high position, and allows the folded roof 1which lies on the raising arm 16 by means of the finger bar 11 supportedby the support element 20, to move from its folded, stored position toits folded, raised position.

Due to the circular movement of the rear roof element 3, the raisingsection 17 is an arc whose centre is the hinge line 10.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the radial end of the raising arm 17 is guidedby a groove 22 integral to the body 9 so as to prevent the radial end ofthe raising arm from deviating from the direction of the swivel axis 19.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, and according to the invention, a securingmeans 23 is fitted onto the raising device 16 in a movable mannerbetween an open position and a closed position.

In the closed position, the securing means 23 is used to support thecentral roof element 4 and the front roof element 5 and immobilise themin relation to the rear roof element 3, when the folded roof 1 is guidedbetween its folded, stored position and its folded raised position.

The securing means 23 is located to the rear and right next to thecentral roof element 4 and the front roof element 5 when the roof 1 isin the folded position. More precisely, the securing means 23 is fittedin a movable manner in rotation around an axis of rotation 24 which istransversal to the vehicle and which is located on the raising arm 16,close to the radial end of the raising arm 16 guided by the groove 22.

The securing means 23 comprises, on its front face 25 (that being on itsface which faces the rear ends of the central roof element 4 and of thefront roof element 5), two recesses 26 and 27. The recess 26 is used toreceive, in the closed position, a stub 28 which is integral to thefront roof element 5, and the recess 27 is used to receive, in theclosed position, a stub 29 which is integral to the central roof element4.

Means for controlling 30 are used to bring the securing means 23 intocontact and to guide it between its open position and its closedposition. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 11, these means forcontrolling 30 are used to guide the securing means 23 from its openposition to its closed position, means for returning 31 constantlybearing on the securing means 23 in the direction of its open position.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the means for returning 31 comprise a spring31 of which a first end is fixed to the securing means 23 and of whichthe second end is fixed to the raising device 16.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the means for controlling 30 are placed on therear roof element 3.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the means for controlling 30 comprise apush button 32. This push button 32 is mounted so as to be movable in astraight line with a guide 33 which is integral to the rear roof element3. The push button 32 is movable between a normal position (see FIG. 6)and a stop position (see FIG. 7) in which the securing means 23 is inthe closed position.

Whilst moving, from its normal position to its stop position, the pushbutton 32 moves from a contact position at which point it comes intocontact with a contact surface 34 located on the front face 25 of thesecuring means 23. The axis of rotation 24 being located between thecontact surface 34 and the recesses 26 and 27, when the push button 32continues its movement, from its contact position to its stop position,it guides the securing means 23 in rotation around the axis of rotation24 until it is in the closed position in which the stubs 28 and 29 areinserted into the recesses 26 and 27.

In order to actuate the displacement of the push button 32 in the guide33, a nut 35, integral to the push button 32, is used to co-operate witha threaded end 36 of an arm 37 fitted in rotation in relation to therear roof element 3. The end of the arm 37 opposite the threaded end 36is integral to a motor 38 fixed to the rear roof element 3, which allowsto guide the push button 32 in a straight line according to thedirection of the arm 37.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate the operating of the device used to facilitatethe inserting of objects under the roof 1 folded in the boot 2 followingthe opening command of the hood 15 from the rear to the front.

In FIG. 8, the roof 1 is in its folded, stored position, the finger bar11 is in the lower front end 18 of the raising section 17 of the guidingrail 7, the raising arm 16 is in its low position, the securing means 23is in its open position under the effect of the return spring 31, andthe push button 32 is in its normal position.

As soon as the roof is in its folded, stored position, the motor 38 isactuated and guides in rotation the arm 37. The rotating of the threadedend 36 of the arm 37 drives the nut 35 and the push button 32 in astraight line, their rotation being hindered by the guide 33. Thus, thepush button 32 moves from its normal position to its contact position,and from its contact position, it engenders through its displacementtowards its stop position, the rotation of the securing means 23 aroundthe axis of rotation 24, from its open position to its closed positionin which the recesses 26 and 27 retain the stubs 28 and 29.

FIG. 9 illustrates this step in which the roof 1 is in its folded,stored position, the finger bar 11 is in the lower front end 18 of theraising section 17 of the guiding rail 7, the raising arm 16 is in itslow position, and the securing means 23 is in its closed position underthe effect of the push button 32 which is in its stop position.

Thus, the central roof element 4 and the front roof element 5 becomefixed as soon as they are stored in the rear boot 2, which avoids anyoff-setting of the additional roof elements 4 and 5 and the putting ofthem off-centre following a brutal movement of the vehicle (for examplepassing over a speed control bump or mounting a kerb).

Following the actuating of the command for opening the hood 15 from therear towards the front, and in order to render the rear boot zone 2located under the folded roof 1 accessible, the jack 21 is actuated,which guides the rotation of the raising arm 16 around the swivel axis19 from its low position to its high position. The finger bar 11,supported by the support element 20, slides along the raising section17. Thus, the roof 1 moves from its folded, stored position to itsfolded, raised position 1, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 demonstrates the finger bar 11 of the rear roof element 3inserted in the lower front end 18 of the raising section 17 andsupported by the support element 20 of the raising arm 16.

FIGS. 12 to 16 illustrate two specific embodiments: the devicecomprises, for each additional roof element 4 and 5, a bearing surface44 and 43 which is used to support the corresponding additional roofelement 4 and 5 when the securing means 23 is in the open position andthe roof 1 is in the folded, stored position.

FIG. 12 illustrates the first specific embodiment: the securing means 23is used to support the central roof element 4 and the rear roof element5 as much when it is in the closed position as in the open position.

Each recess 26 and 27 of the securing means 23 is delimited by a lowerside wall 39 and 40 and an upper side wall 41 and 42 between which thecorresponding stubs 28 and 29 are inserted when the securing means 23 isin the closed position.

According to this embodiment, for each recess 26 and 27, the lower sidewall 39 and 40 projects forward past the corresponding upper side wall41 and 42 so as to create the corresponding bearing surface 43 and 44:each bearing surface 43 and 44 is used to receive, when the securingmeans 23 is in the open position and the roof 1 is in the folded, storedposition, the stub 28 and 29 which is used to be inserted into thecorresponding recess 26 and 27 when the securing means 23 is in theclosed position.

Of course, the central roof element 4 and the front roof element 5 arelaid out so that, when the roof 1 is close to its folded, storedposition, the stub 29 of the central roof element 4 is located furtherforward than the stub 28 of the front roof element 5. In this way, thestub 29 of the central roof element 4 which is located under the stub 28of the front roof element 5, does not push against the bearing surface43 used to receive the stub 28 of the front roof element 5 during thefolding of the roof 1.

In order to restrict, to the greatest extent, the displacement of thecentral and front roof elements 4 and 5 in relation to the rear roofelement 3 when the securing means 23 moves from its open position to itsclosed position, the bearing surfaces 43 and 44 are preferably in theshape of an arc whose centre is the axis of rotation 24.

FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate the second specific embodiment: all thebearing surfaces 43 and 44 are located on a support element 45.

The support element 45 is fitted to the raising device 16 in a movablemanner between an admission position (see FIG. 13) and a receptionposition (see FIGS. 14 and 15) in which each bearing surface 44 and 43is used to support the corresponding additional roof element 4 and 5when the roof 1 is in the folded, stored position.

As can be seen in FIGS. 13 to 16, the support element 45 is, in relationto the raising device 16, fitted in a movable manner in rotation aroundan axis of inclination 46 which is transversal to the vehicle and whichis located in retreat of the additional roof elements 4 and 5 when theroof 1 is in the folded position.

The support element 45 comprises a lower leg 47 and an upper leg 48fixed to each other, each being used to respectively create the bearingsurface 44 of the central roof element 4 and that 43 of the front roofelement 5, when the support element 45 is in the reception position.

Means for activating 49 are used to bring into contact the supportelement 45 and to guide it from its admission position to its receptionposition. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15 these means foractivating 49 are used to guide the support element 45 from itsadmission position towards its reception position, means for returning50 constantly bearing on the support element 45 in the direction of itsadmission position.

As can be seen in FIG. 15, the means for returning 50 comprise a spring50 of which a first end is fixed to the support element 45 and of whichthe second end is fixed to the raising device 16.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15, the means for activating49 are constituted of the stub 29 of the central roof element 4.

When the roof 1 is guided from its deployed position to its folded,stored position, it passes through a transmission position adjacent toits folded, stored position and in which the stub 29 comes into contactwith the lower leg 47 (see FIG. 13).

When the roof 1 is between its deployed position and its transmissionposition, the support element 45 is in the admission position under theeffect of the spring 50.

From this transmission position, the stub 29 of the central roof element4 guides the support element 45 until its reaches its reception positionin which the roof 1 is in its folded, stored position.

When the roof 1 is in the folded, stored position, the securing means 23is in the closed position and the support element 45 is in the receptionposition, each stub 28 and 29 is inserted into a cavity 51 and 52.

Each cavity 51 and 52 is created by the corresponding bearing surface 43and 44 of the support element 45 and the corresponding recess 26 and 27of the securing means 23.

Of course, the central roof element 4, the front roof element 5 and thesupport element 45 are laid out so that, when the roof 1 is close to itstransmission position, the stub 29 of the central roof element 4 doesnot come into contact with the upper leg 48.

In this example, the support element 45 is in the admission position,the upper leg 48 is the leg furthest away from the roof 1: it isprincipally oriented upwards and slightly forwards and is located inretreat of the lower leg 47 which is oriented upwards and forwards. Thusthe stub 29 of the central roof element 4 only comes into contact withthe lower leg 47.

This embodiment is particularly beneficial when the central roof element4 and the front roof element 5 are laid out so that, when the roof 1 isclose to is transmission position, the stub 29 of the central roofelement 4 is located further back than the stub 28 of the front roofelement 5. Whereas, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the stub29 of the central roof element 4 pushes against the bearing surface 43used to receive the stub 28 of the front roof element 5, according tothe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16, the upper leg 48 (creatingthe bearing surface 43 used to receive the stub 28 of the front roofelement 5) is in a position out of the reach of any of the roof 1elements (the upper leg 48 is located alongside the securing means 23when it is in the open position).

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 19, the first means foractivating is a gearing mechanism 53 connecting the rear link arms 13 tothe deployment arm 6 so as to control the movement of the central roofelement 4 with the swivelling of the rear roof element 3 in relation tothe deployment arm 6 when the roof 1 is guided by the deployment arm 6between its deployed position and its folded, stored position.

More precisely, the gearing mechanism 53 comprises an upstream sprocket54 which is fixed to the end of the deployment arm 6 and which is rotarymounted to the rear roof element 3 around a hinge line 10, a downstreamsprocket 55 which is fixed to the end of a rear link arm 13 adjacent tothe rear roof element 3 and which is rotary mounted to the rear roofelement 3 around an axis of transmission 56, and a central sprocket 57which is rotary mounted to the rear roof element 3 and which is drivenby the upstream sprocket 54 and the downstream sprocket 55.

Thus, when the roof 1 is guided between its deployed position and itsfolded, stored position, the deployment arm 6 swivels in relation to therear roof element 3, and consequently, the upstream sprocket 54 drives,by means of the central sprocket 57, the downstream sprocket 55 inrotation around the axis of transmission 56 and the central roof element4 in relation to the rear roof element 3.

So as to avoid displacing the central roof element 4 (and the front roofelement 5), when the roof 1 moves from its folded, stored position toits folded, raised position caused by the rotating of the rear roofelement 3 around the hinge line 10, a disengaging mechanism 58 is usedto disengage the deployment arm 6 from the gearing mechanism 53: the endof the deployment arm 6 adjacent to the hinge line 10 comprises anorifice 59 and the upstream sprocket 54 comprises a complementaryorifice 60 which is located at a right angle to the orifice 59 of thedeployment arm 6 when the roof 1 is in the folded, stored position.

A retaining pin 61 is fitted in a movable manner into the orifice 59 andthe complementary orifice 60 between an engaged position and adisengaged position.

In the engaged position, the retaining pin 61 penetrates into theorifice 59 and the complementary orifice 60 so as to secure the upstreamsprocket 54 to the deployment arm 6, in the disengaged position, theretaining pin 61 is not in the complementary orifice 60. The retainingpin 61 is in the engaged position when the roof 1 is guided between itsfolded, stored position and its deployed position, and it is in itsdisengaged position when the roof 1 is guided between its folded, storedposition and its folded, raised position. The retaining pin 61 is fittedin a straight line perpendicular to the vehicle, and it is driven by amotor 62.

When the deployment arm 6 and the upstream sprocket 54 are not securedtogether, the roof 1 can move from its folded, stored position to itsfolded, raised position, without any mechanical stresses in the gearingmechanism 53.

Furthermore, when the deployment arm 6 is no longer secured to theupstream sprocket 54, the deployment arm 6 is only attached to the axisof rotation 8. Moreover, it is advantageous to have a second disengagingmechanism used to secure the deployment arm 6 to the body 9 at its endadjacent to the hinge line 10 when it is not secured to the upstreamsprocket 54.

Furthermore, so as to avoid creating stress during the displacement ofthe roof 1 between its folded, stored position and its folded, raisedposition, the hinge line 10 and the swivel axis 19 are coaxial (when theroof is in its folded position).

Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment describedin detail in relation to FIGS. 1 to 11.

For example, the securing means 23 could be of a different structure,which also goes for the means for controlling 30 and the means forreturning 31.

Likewise, it is possible to have a device in which the hinge line 10 andthe swivel axis are not coaxial. In this regard, to avoid any mechanicalstress, the recesses used to secure the stubs should be properly shapedso as to provide the additional roof elements 4 and 5 some freedom ofmovement in relation to the securing means 23.

It is also possible that the first means for activating are independentfrom the deployment arm 6, that being mechanically independent: in thisregard, the first means for activating could be a motor. Of course,mechanically speaking, the means for activating mean the displacing ofthe central roof element 4 in relation to the rear roof element 3dependent on the displacing of the rear roof element 3.

1. A device adapted to facilitate the inserting of objects under afolded roof stored in a rear boot of a motor vehicle, the vehiclecomprising a body, a passenger compartment, a hood adapted to movebetween a closed position closing the rear boot and an open positionopening said boot, the roof being movable between a deployed position inwhich it covers the passenger compartment, and a folded, stored positionin which the roof is stored into the boot, the roof comprising a rearroof element and at least one additional roof element-which is locatedin front of the rear roof element when the roof is in the deployedposition, and above the rear roof element when the roof is in thefolded, stored position, the rear roof element comprising a finger baradapted to slide along a guiding rail which is fixed to the body of thevehicle and which comprises a storage section used to guide the roofbetween its deployed position and the folded, stored position, and araising section extending along the storage section and adapted to guidethe folded roof between its folded, stored position and a folded, raisedposition in which, the hood of the rear boot being in the open position,the folded roof at least partially projects out of the boot, the devicecomprising a raising device mounted in a movable manner between a lowposition and a high position, and adapted to guide the finger bar alongthe raising section, wherein a securing means is fitted to the raisingdevice in a movable manner between an open position and a closedposition in which the securing means is adapted to support and toimmobilize said at least one additional roof element with respect to therear roof element, when the roof is moved between its folded, storedposition and its folded, raised position.
 2. The device set forth inclaim 1, wherein the securing means is located behind and in theimmediate vicinity of the additional roof element when the roof is inthe folded, raised position.
 3. The device set forth in claim 1, whereinthe securing means is rotary mounted with respect to the raising device,around a transverse axis of rotation and located behind said at leastone additional roof element when the roof is in the folded, storedposition.
 4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein a groove integralto the body is used to guide an end of the raising arm adjacent to thesecuring means.
 5. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said atleast one additional roof element comprises a plurality of additionalroof elements, and the securing means has a front face including, foreach additional roof element, a recess adapted to receive, in the closedposition, a stub which is integral to the corresponding additional roofelement.
 6. The device set forth in claim 5, wherein it comprises, foreach additional roof element, a bearing surface adapted to support thecorresponding additional roof element when the securing means is in theopen position and the roof is in the folded, stored position.
 7. Thedevice set forth in claim 6, wherein: each recess is delimited by anupper side wall and by a lower side wall which projects forward past theupper side wall and which defines the corresponding bearing surface; theadditional roof elements comprise a central roof element and a frontroof element which is located in front of the central roof element whenthe roof is in the deployed position, and above the central roof elementwhen the roof is in the folded, stored position; stubs are integral tothe central roof element and the front roof element respectively; andthe additional roof elements are arranged so that, when the roof isclose to its folded, stored position, the stub of the central roofelement is located further forward than the stub of the front roofelement so as not to push against the bearing surface of the stub of thefront roof element.
 8. The device set forth in claim 6, wherein all thebearing surfaces are located on a support element which is fitted to theraising device in a movable manner between an admission position and areception position in which each bearing surface is adapted to supportthe corresponding additional roof element when the roof is in thefolded, stored position.
 9. The device set forth in claim 8, wherein:the additional roof elements comprise a central roof element and a frontroof element which is located in front of the central roof element whenthe roof is in the deployed position, and above the central roof elementwhen the roof is in the folded position; and the support elementcomprises a lower leg and an upper leg fixed to each other, each beingadapted to respectively define the bearing surface of the central roofelement and that of the front roof element, when the support element isin the reception position.
 10. The device set forth in claim 8, wherein:the additional roof elements comprise a central roof element and a frontroof element which is located in front of the central roof element whenthe roof is in the deployed position; the support element comprises alower leg and an upper leg fixed to each other; activating means areused to bring into contact the support element and to guide it from itsadmission position to its reception position; and, said activating meanscomprise the stub of the central roof element which is used to bringinto contact the lower leg when the support element is in the admissionposition and when the roof, whilst folding, is in an intermediateposition adjacent to its folded, stored position, and to guide thesupport element until it reaches its reception position when the roofmoves from its intermediate position to its folded, stored position. 11.The device set forth in claim 8, wherein, when the roof is in thefolded, stored position, the securing means is in the closed positionand the support element is in the reception position, stubs are insertedinto cavities respectively defined by the corresponding bearing surfaceof the support element and the corresponding recess of the securingmeans.
 12. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein controlling meansare used to bring the securing means into contact therewith and to guideit from its open position and its closed position.
 13. The device setforth in claim 12, wherein: the controlling means are disposed on therear roof element; and the controlling means comprise a push buttonmounted so as to be movable in a straight line with a guide fixed to therear roof element, between a normal position and a stop position inwhich the securing means is in the closed position, said push buttonbeing adapted to come into contact with a contact surface located on afront face of the securing means.
 14. The device set forth in claim 5,wherein: the securing means is rotary mounted with respect to theraising device, around a transverse axis of rotation and located behindsaid plurality of additional roof elements when the roof is in thefolded, stored position; and the axis of rotation is located between thecontact surface and the recesses.
 15. The device set forth in 1,wherein: folding and unfolding the roof is controlled by at least onedeployment arm and guided by at least one guiding rail; and said atleast one deployment arm is connected to rear link arm linking the rearroof element to the adjacent, additional roof element, by means of agearing mechanism and in that a disengaging mechanism is used todisengage the deployment arm from the gearing mechanism.
 16. The deviceset forth in claim 15, wherein the gearing mechanism comprises anupstream sprocket which is fixed to an end of the deployment arm andwhich is rotary mounted to the rear roof element around a hinge line, adownstream sprocket which is fixed to an end of a rear link arm by whichthe rear roof element is linked to the additional roof element adjacentto it, and which is rotary mounted to the rear roof element around anaxis of transmission, and a central sprocket which is rotary mounted tothe rear roof element and which is driven by the upstream sprocket andthe downstream sprocket.
 17. The device set forth in claim 1, whereinfolding and unfolding the roof is controlled by at least one deploymentarm and guided by at least one guiding rail, and, a hinge line aroundwhich the rear roof element is fitted in a movable maimer to said atleast one deployment arm guiding the roof between its deployed, storedposition and its folded position and the swivel axis around which theraising device is fitted in a movable manner to the body of the vehicleare coaxial when the roof is in its folded, stored position.
 18. Thedevice set forth in claim 13, wherein a nut fixed to the push button isused to engage a threaded end of a rotative arm extended along adirection, so as to guide the push button in a straight line accordingto the direction of extension of the arm.
 19. The device set forth inclaim 18, wherein an end of the arm opposite the threaded end is fixedto a motor attached to the rear roof element.